Penstemon plant named ‘Flock of Flamingos’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Penstemon plant characterized by its large, rose-pink flowers with a clean white throat, dense flower clusters, long bloom time, a strong, upright, and well branched habit with approximately 12 crowns from the base, clean-looking, deep green, and attractive foliage, and excellent vigor.

Botanical classification: Penstemon spp.

Varietal denomination: ‘Flock of Flamingos’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct Penstemon plant, ofthe family Scrophulariaceae, having the varietal name ‘Flock ofFlamingos’. The new variety originated as an open-pollinated cross inJuly of 2017 in the breeding fields of the applicant in Canby, Oregonusing Penstemon plant named ‘Strawberry Taffy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.PP22,569) as the seed parent. ‘Strawberry Taffy’ is a complex hybrid,utilizing the hartwegii species. ‘Flock of Flamingos’ was selected forits medium-large, upright growth habit, large flowers in dense clusters,long flowering time, high vigor, and attractive foliage.

When compared to its seed parent, Penstemon plant named ‘StrawberryTaffy’, the new variety has a longer bloom time, larger and longerinflorescences, more stems from the crown, and a more upright growthhabit. When compared to Penstemon plant named ‘Cha Cha Pink’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. PP26,673), the new variety has a much larger habit, largerflowers with a brighter pink color and an unstriped throat, and numerousbasal branches.

The new variety has only been reproduced by asexual propagation(cuttings and micropropagation using standard micropropagationpractices). Each of the progeny exhibits identical characteristics tothe original plant. Asexual propagation by cuttings and micropropagationusing terminal and lateral shoots was first performed in late June of2019 in Canby, Oregon shows that the characteristics and distinctionsdescribed herein come true to form and are established and transmittedthrough succeeding propagations. The present invention has not beenevaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype mayvary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype ofthe plant.

When compared to other Penstemon plants known to the breeder, the newvariety is characterized by the following:

-   -   1. Large rose-pink flowers with clean white throats;    -   2. Large, dense flower clusters;    -   3. Long bloom time;    -   4. Large, upright, and well-branched habit, with approximately        12 crowns from the base;    -   5. Attractive foliage; and    -   6. High vigor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as possible with color illustrations ofthis type:

FIG. 1 illustrates an 18-month-old plant of the new variety in Canby,Oregon in late spring; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up of view of the flowers of a 2-year-oldplant of the new variety in Canby, Oregon in September.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new variety based onobservations of 2-year-old plants grown outside in trial beds in Canby,Oregon (USDA Zone 8). Temperatures range from a high of 35° C. in Augustto a low of 0° C. in January. Normal rainfall in Canby, Oregon is around1 m per year. Color references are based on The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society of London, 5^(th) Edition.

-   Plant:    -   -   Type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zones 7 to 10.        -   Size.—50.0 cm wide and 85.0 cm tall.        -   Form.—Upright, branching.        -   Vigor.—Very high.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and free branching. RHS 157D near            crown to RHS NN155B at root hairs.        -   Stem.—Number: 12 stems from the crown. Form: Upright.            Length: To 48.0 cm. Width: 5.0 mm at the base. Texture:            Pubescent. Internode length: To 5.0 cm. Color: RHS 147B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Simple.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Length.—To 14.0 cm.        -   Width.—To 6.0 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire to sparsely denticulate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Sessile.        -   Leaf texture (both surfaces).—Glabrous.        -   Upper surface color.—RHS 137A.        -   Lower surface color.—RHS 137D.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.-   Flowers:    -   -   Bud.—Length: 3.5 cm. Width: 15.0 mm. Shape: Closed tubular,            bulging, and flattened ventrally. Color: Primarily RHS            NN155A, except for the presence of RHS 61C on lobes and at            the base.        -   Type.—Zygomorphic, perfect.        -   Shape.—Tubular, bilabiate.        -   Flower size.—To 4.5 cm long and 4.0 cm wide.        -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal, many flowered, dense thyrse.        -   Flower number per inflorescence.—Average of 32.        -   Inflorescence size.—To 28.0 cm long and 10.0 cm wide.        -   Bloom period.—May through October in Canby, Oregon.        -   Lastingness.—Individual flowers last 5 to 6 days on the            plant. Entire inflorescence lasts approximately 6 to 7            weeks, depending upon weather.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 3.0 cm. Width: 1.5 mm. Texture: Pubescent.            Color: RHS N144A with a tint of RHS 58A in the sun.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 1.0 cm. Width: 1.0 mm. Texture: Pubescent.            Color: RHS N144C with a tint of RHS 58A in the sun.        -   Corolla.—Length: 4.5 cm. Width: 4.2 cm. Description: Tube is            funnelform in the calyx and measures 6.0 mm long and 4.0 mm            wide, inflating to 30.0 mm long to 27.0 mm wide and flaring            into 5 lobes. The two smaller, top lobes flare back            (measuring 18.0 mm wide and 18.0 mm deep), the two larger,            lateral lobes flare out (measuring 22.0 mm wide and 20.0 mm            deep), and the lower lobe flares down (measuring 18.0 mm            wide and 18.0 mm deep). Lobes: Margins: Entire. Tips:            Obtuse. Texture: Outside is pubescent; inside is glabrous.            Color (outer suface): RHS N66B on top of funnel and top 2            lobe backs, RHS 63B on bottom 3 lobe backs, and RHS NN155C            on funnel bottom. Color (inner surface): RHS N66B on ¾ of            the tip end of lobes, 3 bottom lobes have a ring of RHS 60A            which extends down their main vein, and the tube RHS NN155D.        -   Calyx (sepals).—Arrangement: 5 overlapping lobes cut to the            base, each lobe broadly ovate in shape and 10.0 mm deep and            9.0 mm wide. Size: 10.0 mm deep and 9.0 mm wide. Apex:            Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Pubescent            (both surfaces). Color: Primarily RHS 145A on both surfaces            with the outside tip and sometimes the margins being RHS            N186C.        -   Pistil.—1; 32.0 mm long.        -   Ovary.—7.0 mm long and 3.0 mm wide; RHS 144C.        -   Style.—25.0 mm long and less than 1.0 mm wide; RHS NN155C.        -   Stigma.—RHS N200A.        -   Stamen.—5, one sterile without an anther; held within the            corolla.        -   Filament.—2.5 to 4.0 cm long; RHS N155C.        -   Anther.—3.0 mm wide and 1.5 mm deep; RHS N186D.        -   Pollen.—Moderate quantity; RHS NN155C.-   Fruit:    -   -   Type.—Capsule.        -   Fertility.—Good.        -   Size.—1.4 cm deep and 4.0 mm wide.        -   Color.—RHS N186C.-   Seeds:    -   -   Shape.—Irregular.        -   Size.—2.0 mm long.        -   Color.—RHS 200A.-   Pests/diseases: High resistance to root rot. No leaf spot, rust, or    powdery mildew observed. No other unusual resistance or    susceptibility noted to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Penstemon plant named ‘Flockof Flamingos’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.